Sound Transit shows latest proposed design for Brooklyn station

Sound Transit unveiled the latest prospective design plans for Brooklyn station at an open house at the Neptune Theatre last night, May 22. Initial concepts for station art and a discussion of potential station names took center stage.

According to the Sound Transit website, Brooklyn station is part of the North Link Project, which will be a 4.3-mile tunnel spanning from University Station near Husky Stadium to a Northgate station near the Northgate Transit Center. Brooklyn station will be located along Brooklyn Avenue Northeast between the University Manor apartments on Northeast 43rd Street and the Neptune Theatre on Northeast 45th Street.

Bruce Gray, a media relations rep for Sound Transit, said the plan is to have the link open by 2021.

“Everything is really coming together,” he said. “It will be jewel of the U-District.”

Sound Transit Project Manger Tracy Reed welcoming everyone to the open house

Open house attendees had the opportunity to vote on prospective names for the station. The three contenders were U-District Station, Brooklyn Station and Northeast 5th Street. A write-in option was also available.

Meeting attendee Jorgen Bader said he encourages people to choose U-District Station or write in University District Station.

“Nothing about the station relates to the University of Washington,” he said. “It needs to tie into the university and introduce people to the university.”

Tracy Reed, a project manager at Sound Transit, said a permanent name will be chosen in June.

“It will reflect the nature of the environment and be brief and easy to read and remember,” she said, adding that the selection will not be similar to names of existing stations and buildings.

In addition to naming the station, the meeting was the first time the community was introduced to the local artists, Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo, who will provide the
station’s artwork. Last November, a Sound Transit art selection committee chose Han and Mihalyo, who own Lead Pencil Studio in Seattle.

“Our inspiration comes from the urban fabric of the city,” Mihalyo said. He added that they plan to have 3-D windows with videos running, still images and lighting.

“They will be ambient in nature,” he said. “We haven’t decided what, but they will relate to domestic and retail experiences.”

The open house presentation noted that the University Station will cater to visitors of Husky Stadium, the University of Washington Medical Center and the southern part of UW’s campus, while the Brooklyn Station will be more accessible for people traveling to the UW Tower, the “Ave,” north campus and buses that connect at Northeast 45th Street.

Attendees view displays and talk to Sound Transit employees during the station design open house.

Gray said the projected ridership at Brooklyn station for 2030 is approximately 12,000 daily boardings based on current transit ridership and projected travel times. Riders will be able to travel from Brooklyn station to Westlake Station in eight minutes and to Sea- Tac Airport in 41 minutes, Gray said.

The station will be approximately 80 feet below ground with elevators, escalators and stairs provided at entrances adjacent to the Neptune Theatre and near the Chase Bank on Northeast 43rd Street. Ticketing machines, covered bicycle storage, benches and four emergency staircases were also featured in the presentation. In addition, the station is designed to include street-level retail shops or office spaces at street level.

Gray said he expects the final design to be completed at the end of 2012, with demolition and construction work beginning shortly after. Construction of the station
will include closing Brooklyn Avenue Northeast and Northeast 43rd Street to traffic and pedestrians.

“The meat of the construction will be from 2014 to 2017,” Gray said. “The biggest impact folks will notice is that Brooklyn will be closed.”